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The Forbidden City - Best Tours & Trips 2019

The romantic sounding Forbidden City is the name of the imperial palace which was active from the Ming to the Qing dynasties, roughly 500 years. This enormous complex consists of 980 buildings, covering an area of over 180 acres. Today you can visit the Palace Museum with its extensive collection of art and artifacts and walk among the outer buildings, declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

DEPARTURE DATES

Trip Type

Trip TypeClassic Tour Groups are between 25-60 people, typically ~30-40. Usually there will be many opportunities to split off and enjoy meals and excursions in smaller groups. This is the most economical way to travel, saving up to 40% versus booking the same itinerary yourself.Small Group Guided Experiences Small groups are usually defined as between 10 and 24 travelers, often less. If you're the kind of person who enjoys more intimate experiences and personal service this is a good choice. All else being equal you will pay a premium for this style vs a larger group tour.River Cruise These vessels are smaller than most ocean cruisers, limiting which amenties are available. Passenger counts can vary. One of the biggest advantages of a river cruise is the ability to dock at smaller ports and local villages.Small Ocean Cruise Small ship cruises usually have a max passenger count of 500. The primary purpose of these trips is to spend time off the vessel in local ports (e.g. Mediterranean) or experiencing nature (e.g Galapagos or Antarctica). Cabins can vary from budget to luxury.Private Tour Private tours give you the undivided attention of a guide, and often involve special access to sites and unique experiences not available to larger groups. This is a great option for families, couples, and small friend groups. Expect to pay a bit more for the extra service.Independent Package A travel company plans your itinerary and arranges all the logistics including lodging, local activities, and transportantion. You have the flexibility of a solo trip while still getting the convience and time savings of expert planning. Get 90% of the benefits of a tour, without a guide.Vacation / Holiday Package Similar to a self guided tour, this usually involves a home base, such as a hotel or resort, with packaged activities and day tours as a part of the stay.Large Ocean Cruise This is the "floating city" experience, with multiple ways to enjoy your vacation aboard the ship as much as on land. Ships are multiple floors, provide several activities, culinary, and shopping options. They often make fewer stops and have less time available for shore excursions.

Tour Styles

Lodging Level

Lodging LevelCamping Typically involves most nights sleeping in tents (sometimes permanent tented sites) or in rustic cabins and lodges.Basic - 2 star You'll stay in no-frills, but clean and comfortable, hotels or guesthouses. A 'Basic' trip might also involve a few nights of camping.Value - 3 star Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.Premium - 4 star 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.Luxury - 5 star The highest level of comfort and service. All accomodations are in four or five star hotels, boutique lodges or high-end homestays.

Price Per Day

Trip Length

Countries

Physical Level

Physical LevelVery Easy Minimal walking - motor vehicles available for all major parts of trip.Easy Normal generally flat walking in urban or suburban environments.Moderate Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment.Strenuous All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.Extreme Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment.

Travellers Age

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In general, it was a wonderful trip. Our guide was the best.
November 2017

Our guide in Beijing was the best. My husband likes to ask questions and she always had a great answer and very knowledgeable in history.
Jen, Vice President of Operations at Myths and Mountains, provided reminder emails and also answered all our questions. My husband liked the pre-trip phone call too. We loved touring the Mogao Caves. It was better than anticipated! Second highlight were the Terracotta Warriors. Read more

Operator Myths and Mountains

The China sampler tour
November 2016

The China sampler was a wonderful trip. We had never ventured to the orient and the China Sampler was a good introduction to Chinese culture. We liked all the places we visited in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai,and Sozhou. The hotels were very nice and comfortable. Out guides Hou and Lilly were very knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. All the extra excursions were well worth the time and expense. I would definitely recommend the tour to anyone.Read more

Operator SmarTours

PW

P. Wu

Recommends

Amazing Tour of China
November 2016

I have just returned from the China Sampler tour jet-lagged and happy, and I can’t stop talking about how incredible it was. Thanks to tour guide Michael (and a number of excellent local guides who joined him), our wonderful group of travelers saw the biggest sights in China: the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Army, and Shanghai’s breathtaking Bund waterfront. I highly recommend the optional excursions. Almost everyone in the group did most (or all!) of the excursions, which kept us very busy but ended up being some of the most memorable highlights of the trip. While the hotel in Beijing was pretty good, the ones in Xian and Shanghai were outstanding. Michael kept things running smoothly and efficiently. Word to the wise if you book this trip: I hope you like Chinese food! This was my first trip with SmarTours, and it won’t be my last.Read more

Operator SmarTours

The Forbidden City Attractions & Landmarks Guide

The romantic sounding Forbidden City is the name of the imperial palace which was active from the Ming to the Qing dynasties, roughly 500 years. This enormous complex consists of 980 buildings, covering an area of over 180 acres. Today you can visit the Palace Museum with its extensive collection of art and artifacts and walk among the outer buildings, declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. It's a classic stop on most China tours.

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